Dogging device for panic exit latch and actuator assembly

ABSTRACT

A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising housing means, a latchbolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element operatively connected to the latchbolt and arranged to move the latchbolt to its retracted position in response to movement of the actuator element, and control means including a control member movable between a first position and a second position and cooperating means for locking the actuator element in its latch-projected position. The control member and the actuator element are connected to the latchbolt by lost-motion connection means so that the latchbolt can be retracted by the control member without changing the position of the actuator element and so that the latchbolt can be retracted by the actuator element without changing the position of the control member. The said cooperating means is operated by movement of the control member to lock the actuator element against movement which, in turn, locks the panic bar against movement.

United States Patent 72] Inventor George Z. Zawadzki Indianapolis, Ind.[21] App]. No. 65,201 [22] Filed Aug. 19, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 19,1971 [73] Assignee Von Duprin, Inc.

7 Indianapolis, Ind.

[54] DOGGING DEVICE FOR PANIC EXIT LATCH AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY 16Claims, Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 292/92, 70/92, 292/201, 292/227 [51] Int. Cl ..E05b 65/10,E05c 3/16, E05c /02 Field of Search 70/92; 292/53, 92, 93,21,166,168,201, 221,227, DIG.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,945,372 7/1960 Reed /923,024,053 3/1962 Cox 292/21 3,432,631 3/1969 Deutscher ZOO/61.67-3,435,643 4/1969 Pollak 70/92 3,464,728 9/1969 Ruckel 292/92 PrimaryExaminer-Robert l... Wolfe Att0rneyl-lood, Gust, Irish, Lundy & CoffeyABSTRACT: A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising housingmeans, a latchbolt movable between a projected position and a retractedposition, an actuator element operatively connected to the latchbolt andarranged to move the latchbolt to its retracted position in response tomovement of the actuator element, and control means including a controlmember movable between a first position and a second position andcooperating means for locking the actuator element in itslatch-projected position. The control member and the actuator elementare connected to the latchbolt by lost-motion connection means so thatthe latchbolt can be retracted by the control member without changingthe position of the actuator element and so that the latchbolt can beretracted by the actuator element without changing the position of thecontrol member. The said cooperating means is operated by movement ofthe control member to lock the actuator element against movement which,in turn, locks the panic bar against movement.

PATENTEDUET 19 I97| 3,614,145

SHEET 10F 3 INVENTOR.

GEORG E Z. ZAWA DZ Kl fiM/ /M 97 1 ATTORNEYS PAIENTEDHBT 19 um 3.614.145

SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR.

GEORGE Z. ZAWADZKl XM/Z/ /W ATTORNEYS DOGGING DEVICE FOR PANIC EXITLATCH AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY My present invention is directed to thepanic exit device field, and particularly to a dogging device for apanic exit latch and actuator assembly. Conventionally, means areprovided for dogging the conventional panic bar in its latch-retractingposition. Such panic exit devices conventionally comprise a pair ofcasings, mounted respectively near the opposite edges of a door and uponthe interior surface thereof, a panic bar spanning the door andsuspended from downwardly and inwardly curved arms having their upperends pivotally supported in the respective casings, that casing near thefree edge of the door housing a retractable latch bolt and mechanismproviding an operative connection between the adjacent panic bar arm andthe latchbolt whereby, upon movement of the panic bar downwardly andtoward the door in an are centered upon the pivot axes of the arm, thelatchbolt will be retracted. Then, the latchbolt is held in itsretracted position by dogging the panic bar in its position effective toretract the latchbolt.

In my structure herein presented, the conventional pivotally supportedpanic bar is replaced by a push bar which is supported for bodilyrectilinear movement in a direction perpendicular to the surface of thedoor, this rectilinearly movable bar preferably being connected bytoggle means to an actuator element or a retractor element which is, inturn, connected to the latchbolt. The toggle means provides a largemechanical advantage over the latchbolt so that the latchbolt can beretracted by slight pressures against the push bar. It will be apparent,therefore, that my push bar is, in effect, a panic bar in that anyforces against the bar will be directed toward retracting the latch boltto permit opening of the door on which the bar is mounted.

Since it is frequently desirable, such as during the daytime hours in aschool building, to dog the latchbolt on doors so that the doors can beeasily opened from the outside, my present invention provides means forholding the latchbolt in its retracted position and cooperating meansfor simultaneously locking the actuator element in its latch-projectedposition, thereby locking the push bar in its outer position.

Other objects and features of my present invention will become apparentas this description progresses.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the presentinvention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawingsare illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a door,showing an embodiment of my assembly mounted in an operative positionthereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken from FIG. 1 generally alongthe line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, horizontal sectional view of an embodiment of myinvention, illustrating fragments of a door, a door frame, a keeper anda strike plate, the parts being illustrated in a door-latched condition;

FIG. 4 is another enlarged horizontal section similar to the left-handend of FIG. 3 and showing the parts in latchretracted position;

FIG. 5 is another enlarged horizontal section similar to the left-handend of FIG. 3 and showing the latchbolt locked in its latch-retractedposition and the retractor element locked in its latch-projectedposition;

FIG. 6 and FIG. 6a are fragmentary sectional views showing the controlmeans for holding the latchbolt in its retracted position andsimultaneously preventing movement of the latch retractor element, bothviews being taken respectively along lines 66 and 6a-6a in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, horizontal sectional view showing a solenoid usedto hold the latch bolt in its retracted position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view showing a conventional cylinder lock usedwith my assembly to dog the latchbolt; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken from FIG. 8 generally alongthe line9-9 and showing how the cylinder lock is used to drive amechanism which shifts the position of the latchbolt.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 10generally designates a door or other hinged closure while the referencenumeral 11 generally indicates an embodiment of a latch and actuatorassembly of the "panic" type and embodying my invention. A housing means12 is proportioned and designed to span the door 10 transversely,usually about hip height, and a latchbolt 13 is mounted in the housingmeans for movement between the projected position illustrated in FIG. 1and a retracted position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The housing means 12 is formed to provide a rear surface 14 and a frontsurface 15. The rear surface 14 is suitably secured to the interiorsurface 16 of the closure 10 and a push bar 17, hereinafter sometimesreferred to as the panic bar, penetrates the front surface 15 of saidhousing means. The free edge of the closure 10 is adapted to mate with asurface of the door frame 18, upon which surface is mounted a suitablekeeper 19 and a strike plate 20.

The forward surface 15 of the housing means 12 is formed with an opening21 through which the push bar 17 penetrates with a comfortable slidingfit.

Within the housing means 12, there are mounted two identical guide units22 and 23 spaced apart longitudinally of the housing means; and floormeans 24 is disposed within the housing means for a purpose which willappear. Each of the units 22 and 23 is formed to provide alongitudinally extending guide surface (not shown) for slidablyreceiving and guiding a longitudinally extending, rodlike actuatorelement 23, herein sometimes referred to as a retractor element. Eachunit 22, 23 also provides a cylindrically shaped bore as a guidingsurface (not shown) which extends forwardly upon an axis perpendicularto the floor means 24. Preferably, but not necessarily, a bushing 27 isprovided for each such bore guiding surface.

The actuator 28 is slidably guided by the aforementioned guide surfacesof the units 22 and 23 for rectilinear, axial movement longitudinally ofthe housing means 12 and perpendicular to the axes defined by thebushings 27.

As seen in the drawings, the latchbolt 13 may be pivotally mounted upona pivot pin 29 supported within the housing means 12, for rockingmovement between its projected position illustrated in FIG. 1 and itsretracted position illustrated, for instance, in FIG. 4. Said bolt 13 isformed with a blocking surface which, when the parts are in thepositions of FIG. 3, will affirmatively prevent movement of the closure10 in a clockwise direction about its right-hand, hinged edge. Said bolt13 is further formed with a camming surface 31 which, as the closure 10moves toward closed position, will engage the strike plate 20 to turnthe bolt in a clockwise direction about its pivot 29 until the latchboltreaches registry with the socket of the keeper 19.

At its left-hand end as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 6, the actuator element 28carries a yokelike connector block 280, each leg of which is providedwith an elongated longitudinally extending slot 33. A pin 32 extendstransversely through these slots 33 and through a block 34 which isdisposed between the legs of the connector block 28a. A rigid link 35including a clevis 35a provides a connection between the block 3 8 andthe latchbolt 13, the block 34 being pivotal about the axis of the pin32 and the clevis 3511 being pivotal about the axis of the connector pin36 on the latchbolt 13. A spring 37 bears upon the extremities of theconnector block 280 normally to urge the clevis35a to g the left, i.e.,to the latch-projected position. This spring 37 will keep the pin 32normally at the left-hand end of the slots 33. When the actuator element28 is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 6, i.e., from itslatch-projected position to its latchretracted position, the left-handends of the slots 33 will engage the pin 32 to move the pin and theblock 34 and linkage 35 to the right to move the latchbolt 13 to itsretracted position. However, this means providing the operativeconnection between the actuator element 28 and the latchbolt 13 is alostmotion connection in that the bolt 13 may be turned in a clockwisedirection from its illustrated position in FIG. 3, by compression of thespring 37 without affecting the position of the actuator element 28. Insuch a case, the pin 32 can move to the right as viewed in FIG. 6 alongthe elongated slots 33 to retract the latchbolt 13. In this descriptionand in the claims appended hereto, I shall sometimes refer to theconnection between the actuator 28 and the latchbolt 13 as the firstmeans providing an operative connection between the latchbolt andactuator element.

Means indicated at 38 is suitably rigidly secured to the actuatorelement 28 and an expansion spring 39 is sleeved on the element 28 tobear at one end against the means 38 and at its other end against theguide 23 as viewed in FIG. 3. thus, it will be seen that the actuatorelement 28 is normally held in its position illustrated in FIG. 3,wherein the latchbolt 13 is disposed in its projected position. Underthese circumstances, the latchbolt 13 will normally stand in itsprojected position, and it will be moved to the retracted position ofFIG. 4 upon movement of the actuator element 28 toward the 'rightagainst the tendency of the spring 39.

My second means for providing an operative connection will now bediscussed. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, twotogglelike linkages or toggle means 40 and 41 establish an operativeconnection between the push bar 17 and the actuator element 28. Sincethese linkages 40, 41 are identical, only one will be described indetail.

Each such linkage 40, 41 comprises a first rigid link 42, one end ofwhich is oscillably mounted upon a pivot means 43 fixed with respect tothe associated guide unit 22 or 23 upon an axis perpendicular to theline of movement of the element 28 and parallel with the floor means 24.A second rigid link 44 has one end oscillably mounted upon a pivot 45fixed to the element 28 upon an axis parallel with the axis of the pivotmeans 43. The distal ends of both links 42 and 44 are pivotally joinedby pivot means 46 upon an axis parallel with the axes of the pivot means43 and 45. Preferably, a roller 47, bearing upon the floor means 24, isjournaled on the pivot means 45 and a second roller 48, bearing upon theinternal surface of the push bar 17, is journaled on the pivot means 46.It will be understood that each link 42 and 44 comprises a pair of armsstraddling the associated members.

Fixed to the internal surface of the push bar 17 are two cylindricalposts 49 proportioned and designed for telescopic association with thebushings 27 and having a snug, sliding fit therein of substantiallongitudinal extent so that the push bar is effectively supportedthereby for bodily, rectilinear movement perpendicularly toward and awayfrom the inner surface 16 of the closure 10. The parts are soproportioned and designed that, when the actuator element 28 is at theleft-hand limit of its stroke, i.e., its latch-projected position, underthe influence of the spring 39, the rollers 48 bear upon the internalsurface of the push bar 17 to hold the push bar at its outer limit ofits path of movement.

The structure of the toggle means 40, 41 and the manner in which theyare use drivingly to connect the push bar 17 to the actuator element 28is fully disclosed in my pending application Ser. No. 61,1 10, filedAug. 5, 1970.

My present system includes control means for dogging the latchbolt 13 inits retracted position and simultaneously locking the actuator element28 in its latch-projected position. This control means includes acontrol member 50 movable between a first position shown in FIG. 3,which is its latch-projected position, and a second position shown inFIG. 5, which is its latch-retracted position, this member 50 beingprovided with an elongated, longitudinally extending slot 51 whichregisters with the slots 33 when the member 50 and the actuator element28 are both in their first positions, i.e., their latch-projectedpositions. The pin 32 extends into this slot 51 so that movement of themember 50 away from its latch-projected position toward itslatch-retracted position will move the latchbolt 13 from its projectedposition to its retracted position. This is my third means providing anoperative connection between the control member 50 and the latchbolt 13effective to move the latchbolt to is retracted position when thecontrol member is moved from its first position to its second position,this third connection means including a lost-motion connection so thatthe latchbolt 13 can be retracted without moving the member 50.Specifically, when the actuator element 28 is moved to the right asviewed in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the pin 32 will move to the right-hand endof the slot 51 without moving the member 50. In the illustrativeembodiment, the member 50 is formed to provide an elongated slot 52extending angularly outwardly relative to the direction of movement ofthe member 50. The purpose of this slot 52 will be explainedhereinafter.

I provide a locking member or dog 53 which is mounted for pivotalmovement by pivot means (pin) 54 which extends generally parallel to theaxes of the pivot means 43, 45, 46. It will be appreciated that thelocking member 53 is pivotally mounted on the guide means 22. A rigidpin 55 extends outwardly from the member 53 slidably to engage theelongated slot 52. The action of this pin 55 in the slot 52 causes themember 53 to pivot about its axis 54 when the member 50 is moved betweenits first and second position. Specifically, when the member 50 is movedfrom its latch-projected position to its latch-retracted position, theengagement of the pin 55 in the slot 52 will cause the member 53 to movefrom its position illustrated in FIG. 3 to its position illustrated inFIG. 5 i.e., its blocking or locking position. lllustratively, theconnector block 280 is provided with rigid shoulder portions 58extending outwardly relative to the direction of movement of theactuator element 28. The member 53 is provided with transversely spacedapart portions 59 which engage and block, respectively, the shoulderportions 58. When this action occurs, i.e., when the member 53 is in itsFIG. 5 position to engage the shoulder portions 58, the actuator element28 cannot be moved to the right and, consequently, the push bar 17 islocked in its outermost position. Thus, with the parts in the positionsshown in FIG. 5, the latchbolt 13 is dogged in its retracted positionand the actuator element 28 as well as the push bar 17 and the togglemeans 40, 41 are all dogged in their respective latch-projectedpositions. With the parts in the positions shown in FIG. 5, any pressureagainst the push bar 17 or against the closure 10 will merely move theclosure in a clockwise direction about its hinged edge.

In the illustrative embodiments, 1 shown a rod 56 connected to thecontrol member 50 as indicated at 57. This rod 56 is utilized to shiftthe control member 50 from its first position to its second position toretract the latchbolt 13. In FIGS. 2, 3 and 60, I show a shiftermechanism indicated generally at 61 for shifting the rod 56. Thisshifter mechanism 61 includes a rocking member 62, which I refer to asan auxiliary key, the

head 63 of which is provided with a conventional kerf for receiving ascrewdriver blade, or, for instance, a socket for receiving a wrench orother tool. An access opening 64 is provided in the surface 15 for thetool which engages the head 63. A crank member or turning lever 65having an arm portion 66 is connected to the rocking member 62 formovement therewith. The distal end of the arm portion 66 carries a rigidpin 67 which engages an elongated slot 68 at the distal end of an arm 69which is movable about a pivot pin 70 extending generally parallel tothe axis about which the member 62 rocks. The right-hand end of the rod56 as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 6a is pivotally connected to the arm 69 bymeans such as indicated at 71 in FIG. 2. Thus, when the arm 69 isshifted from its solid-line position of FIG. 6a to its broken lineposition of FIG. 6a, the rod 56 is moved to the right to shift thecontrol member 50 from its latch-projected position to itslatch-retracted position. A pair of relatively stationary bracketmembers 72, 73 is disposed on opposite sides of the arm 69, the bracketmember 72 providing a trunnion 74 coaxially aligned with the member 62for supporting the crank 65. The arm 66 is provided with a detentconcavity 75 as illustrated. In order releasably to hold the arm 69 inits two positions shown in FIG. 60, I provide a spring member 87 havingtwo spacedapart protrusions 88 and 89 which engage the concavity 75. Theengagement of the protrusion 89 in the concavity 75 is effective to holdthe arm 69 in its broken line position of FIG. 6a against the tendencyof the spring 37 which, of course, urges the latchbolt 13 to itsprojected position.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, I show a conventional key-operated cylinder lockindicated generally at 80, the output shaft 81 of which is drivinglyconnected to the crank 65 of a similar shifter mechanism 61'. Theadvantage of the system shown in figs. 8 and 9 is that only anauthorized person having a proper key can dog the latchbolt 13 in itsretracted position.

Referring now to FIG. 7, it will be seen that I have shown a solenoid82, the armature 82 of which is connected to the right-hand end of therod 56 by a pivot lever 83. When the solenoid 80 is energized, the lever83 is pivoted clockwise (FIG. 7) about its pivot axis 83' to move therod 56 to the right to move the latchbolt 13 to its retracted position.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6 it will be seen that I show a pin 84extending outwardly from the block 34. This pin 84 actuates the triggerarm 85 of a conventional microswitch (not shown) which may be wired toan alarm system. Thus, if anyone tampers with the latchbolt 13 when itis in its projected position, the arm 85 will be moved to turn on awarning light, sound an alarm, etc. Further, I shown a trigger arm 86(FIG. 5) of a microswitch (not shown) positioned and arranged to beoperated by the locking member 53 when it is in its blocking positionrelative to the block 28a to turn on a light or other device to indicatethat the latchbolt 13 is dogged in its retracted position.

What is claer is moved to its said second pimed is:

l. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means,a latchbolt movable between a projected position and a retractedposition an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element formovement between a first position and a second position, first meansproviding an operative connection between said actuator element and saidlatchbolt to move said latchbolt toward its retracted position inresponse to movement of said actuator element from its first position toits second position, a panic bar supported for movement outwardly andinwardly relative to said housing means, second means providing anoperative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element tomove said actuator element from its first position to its secondposition in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, controlmeans including a control member movable between a first position and asecond position and cooperating means for locking said actuator elementin its said first position when said control membosition, and thirdmeans providing an operative connection between sad control member andsaid latch bolt to move said latchbolt to its retracted position whensaid control member is moved from its first position to its secondposition.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said first connection meansincludes a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said latchboltto its retracted position without moving said actuator element from itsfirst position to its second position, and in which said thirdconnection means includes a lostmotion connection permitting movement ofsaid latchbolt to its retracted position without moving said controlmember from its first position to its second position.

3. The invention of claim 2 including spring means yieldably biasingsaid actuator element toward its first position, and in which saidsecond connection means includes toggle means drivingly connecting saidpanic bar to said actuator element, said toggle means being constructedso that, when said actuator element is locked in its first position saidpanic bar is restrained against movement inwardly.

4. The invention of claim 2 in which said actuator element provides arigid portion extending outwardly relative to the direction of movementof said element, and in which said locking means includes a lockingmember mounted for movement into a blocking position engaging said rigidportion.

5. The invention of claim 4 in which said control member provides anelongated slot inclining outwardly relative to the path of movement saidcontrol member and including a pin rigidly connected to said lockingmember and engaged in said slot, the direction of extension of said slotbeing such that, when said control member moves from its said blockingposition by the camming action of said pin in said slot.

6. The invention of claim 1 in which said control means includes asolenoid arranged, when operated, to move said control member from itsfirst position to its second position.

7. The invention of claim 5 in which said control means includes asolenoid arranged when operated, to move said control member from itsfirst position to its second position.

8. The invention of claim 1 in which said control means includes acylinder lock mounted in said housing means and a shifter mechanismoperably connected to said lock, said shifter mechanism being connectedto said control member and arranged to move said member between itsfirst and second position.

9. The invention of claim 5 in which said control means includes acylinder lock mounted in said housing means and a shifter mechanismoperably connected to said lock, said shifter mechanism being connectedto said control member and arranged to move said member between itsfirst and second positions.

10. A panic exit latch and actuator mechanism comprising a retractorelement rectilinearly movable between a latch-projected position and alatch-retracted position, means yieldably biasing said element normallytoward its latch-projected position, push bar elongated in the directionof the movement of said element, means guiding said push bar forrectilinear bodily movement outwardly and inwardly in a directionperpendicular to the line of movement of said element, toggle meansproviding an operative connection between said push bar and said elementto move said element in opposition to said biasing means away from itssaid latch-projected position when said push bar is moved inwardlytoward said element, a latchbolt movable between a projected positionand a retracted position, means providing an operative connectionbetween said latchbolt and said element to move said latchbolt towardits retracted position when said element is moved away from its saidlatch-projected position, said connection means including a lost-motionconnection permitting movement of said latchbolt toward its retractedposition without moving said element in opposition to said biasing meansfrom its latchprojected position, and control means for dogging saidlatchbolt in its said retracted position and simultaneously locking saidelement in its said latch-projected position.

11. The invention of claim 1% in which said control means includes acontrol member movable between a latch-projected positions and alatch-retracted position and a cooperating locking member for engagingsaid retractor element and hold ing it in its latch-projected position,and including means providing an operative connection between saidlatchbolt and said control member to move said latchbolt toward itsretracted position when said control member is moved away from its saidlatch-projected position, the last said connection means including alost-motion connection permitting movement of said latchbolt toward itsretracted position without moving said control member from itslatchprojected position.

12. The invention of claim 11 in which said retractor element isprovided with a rigid shoulder portion extending outwardly relative tothe direction of movement of said element, and in which said lockingmember is mounted for movement into blocking engagement with saidshoulder portion.

13. The invention of claim 12 in which said control means includes meansproviding an operative connection between said control member and saidlocking member to move said locking member into engagement with saidshoulder portion when said control member is moved from itslatch-projected position to its latch-retracted position.

14. The invention of claim 13 in which the means providing an operativeconnection between said control member and its latch-projected positionto its latch-retracted position.

16. The invention of claim 11 in which said control means includes akey-operated shifter mechanism for moving said control member from itslatch-projected position to its latchretracted position.

"H050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,6l4,l45 Dated October 19, 1971 lnventoflw Georqe Z. Zawadzki It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 15, "thus" should be Thus same column, 1 line 57, "use"should be used Column 4 line 45, "shown" should be show Column 5,

same column, line ,25, "shown" should be show same column, line 31,should read What is claimed is:

same column, line 34, (Claim 1, line 3) a comma should be inserted after"position",- same column, line 49, (Claim 1, line 18) should read saidcontrol member is moved to its said second position, and same column,line 50, (Claim 1, line 19) "said" is misspelled; same column, line 67,(Claim 3, line 6) a comma should be inserted after "position".

Column 6 line 3, (Claim 5, line 3) after "movement" insert of samecolumn, line 6, (Claim 5, line 6) after "its' insert first position toits second position, said locking member is moved to its same column,line 12 (Claim 7,

line 2) a comma should be inserted after "arranged"; same column, line19, (Claim 8, last line) "position" should be positions same column,line 30 (Claim 10 line 5) should read tion, a push bar elongated in thedirection of movement of same column, line 51 (Claim 11, line 3)"positions" (first word) should be position Signed and sealed this 9thday of May 1972.

( ET? AL At Lest:

FEW 1RD PLFLETCHER ,JR. ROBERT GU'I'TSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionor of Pa tents

1. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means,a latchbolt movable between a projected position and a retractedposition an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element formovement between a first position and a second position, first meansproviding an operative connection between said actuator element and saidlatchbolt to move said latchbolt toward its retracted position inresponse to movement of said actuator element from its first position toits second position, a panic bar supported for movement outwardly andinwardly relative to said housing means, second means providing anoperative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element tomove said actuator element from its first position to its secondposition in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, controlmeans including a control member movable between a first position and asecond position and cooperating means for locking said actuator elementin its said first position when said control member is moved to its saidsecond position, and third means providing an operative connectionbetween sad control member and said latch bolt to move said latchbolt toits retracted position when said control member is moved from its firstposition to its second position.
 2. The invention of claim 1 in whichsaid first connection means includes a lost-motion connection permittingmovement of said latchbolt to its retracted position without moving saidactuator element from its first position to its second position, and inwhich said third connection means includes a lost-motion connectionpermitting movement of said latchbolt to its retracted position withoutmoving said control member from its first position to its secondposition.
 3. The invention of claim 2 including spring means yieldablybiasing said actuator element toward its first position, and in whichsaid second connection means includes toggle means drivingly connectingsaid panic bar to said actuator element, said toggle means beingconstructed so that, when said actuator element is locked in its firstposition said panic bar is restrained against movement inwardly.
 4. Theinvention of claim 2 in which said actuator element provides a rigidportion extending outwardly relative to the direction of movement ofsaid element, and in which said locking means includes a locking membermounted for movement into a blocking position engaging said rigidportion.
 5. The invention of claim 4 in which said control memberprovides an elongated slot inclining outwardly relative to the path ofmovement said control member and including a pin rigidly connected tosaid locking member and engaged in said slot, the direction of extensionof said slot being such that, when said control member moves from itssaid blocking position by the camming action of said pin in said slot.6. The invention of claim 1 in which said control means includes asolenoid arranged, when operated, to move said control member from itsfirst position to its second position.
 7. The invention of claim 5 inwhich said control means includes a solenoid arranged when operated, tomove said control member from its first position to its second position.8. The invention of claim 1 in which said control means includes acylinder lock mounted in Said housing means and a shifter mechanismoperably connected to said lock, said shifter mechanism being connectedto said control member and arranged to move said member between itsfirst and second position.
 9. The invention of claim 5 in which saidcontrol means includes a cylinder lock mounted in said housing means anda shifter mechanism operably connected to said lock, said shiftermechanism being connected to said control member and arranged to movesaid member between its first and second positions.
 10. A panic exitlatch and actuator mechanism comprising a retractor elementrectilinearly movable between a latch-projected position and alatch-retracted position, means yieldably biasing said element normallytoward its latch-projected position, push bar elongated in the directionof the movement of said element, means guiding said push bar forrectilinear bodily movement outwardly and inwardly in a directionperpendicular to the line of movement of said element, toggle meansproviding an operative connection between said push bar and said elementto move said element in opposition to said biasing means away from itssaid latch-projected position when said push bar is moved inwardlytoward said element, a latchbolt movable between a projected positionand a retracted position, means providing an operative connectionbetween said latchbolt and said element to move said latchbolt towardits retracted position when said element is moved away from its saidlatch-projected position, said connection means including a lost-motionconnection permitting movement of said latchbolt toward its retractedposition without moving said element in opposition to said biasing meansfrom its latch-projected position, and control means for dogging saidlatchbolt in its said retracted position and simultaneously locking saidelement in its said latch-projected position.
 11. The invention of claim10 in which said control means includes a control member movable betweena latch-projected positions and a latch-retracted position and acooperating locking member for engaging said retractor element andholding it in its latch-projected position, and including meansproviding an operative connection between said latchbolt and saidcontrol member to move said latchbolt toward its retracted position whensaid control member is moved away from its said latch-projectedposition, the last said connection means including a lost-motionconnection permitting movement of said latchbolt toward its retractedposition without moving said control member from its latch-projectedposition.
 12. The invention of claim 11 in which said retractor elementis provided with a rigid shoulder portion extending outwardly relativeto the direction of movement of said element, and in which said lockingmember is mounted for movement into blocking engagement with saidshoulder portion.
 13. The invention of claim 12 in which said controlmeans includes means providing an operative connection between saidcontrol member and said locking member to move said locking member intoengagement with said shoulder portion when said control member is movedfrom its latch-projected position to its latch-retracted position. 14.The invention of claim 13 in which the means providing an operativeconnection between said control member and said locking member includesmeans providing a camming surface carried on said control member andmeans carried on said locking member and arranged to engage said cammingsurface.
 15. The invention of claim 11 in which said control meansincludes solenoid means for moving said control member from itslatch-projected position to its latch-retracted position.
 16. Theinvention of claim 11 in which said control means includes akey-operated shifter mechanism for moving said control member from itslatch-projected position to its latch-retracted position.